Behavioural optometrists look at the way the brain processes information and how we learn as well as correcting the turn. I have worked for a few optometrists and a few behavioural optometrists and often the surgery is something that will be done regardless. IMO I would up the patching hrs and continue with the opthalmogist and maybe see a pediatric opthalmogist if the one you are not seeing one now.
I just wanted to explain a little more because I posted quickly then ran out the door.
As Minky says it can be about the way the brain processes information. I do these excercises with both my kids because DS has Sensory Processesing Disorder, and it helps the brain to sort the info properly. It's great for all kids in any case (helps AMAZINGLY with things like eye tracking) and it's also great for DD and her turned eye.
The lady that taught me has seen heaps of these eyes fix themselves. It's fun too, a bit of rolling around on the floor and on a fit ball. We do it for 15 mins per day.
I am a behavioural optometrist and I will try and give you a balanced view on this.
Firstly, as I have not examined your child, everything I will say here is of a general nature and not specific advice for your child.
Ophthalmologists and behavioural optometrists have different philosophies on vision and treatment of visual dysfunctions. Ignoring causes due to diseases, we consider eye turns to be an adaptation to a visual problem. So the best treatment is to address the initial problem, rather than treat the symptom (the eye turn). What you have to be aware of is that surgery does not usually allow the eyes to work together, but often gives only a cosmetic cure. And as the original problem that caused the eye turn has not been addressed, then the eye turn often returns. It is not uncommon for a child to need multiple eye surgeries over time. Most ophthalmologists I know will tell parents this - I would ask your ophthalmologist about this if you haven't already.
Obviously my advice would be to see the behavioural optometrist, but as that may seem biased I will instead point you to some resources to allow you to make your own decision.
Please find this book and read it - you may have to order in from Amazon in the US:
Fixing My Gaze by Susan R. Barry, Oliver Sacks
There is a website about the book. It is written by a neuro-scientist who had eye surgery when young for an eye turn, and then had vision therapy when in her 40's. She had cosmetically straight eyes after her surgery, but did not have functional eye allignent (using both eyes together with binocular vision) until going through vision therapy. If nothing else, please read this book before doing anything else.
Sorry it toook a bit to reply but had a bit of a technology break.
Our appt was last friday, and it seemed to go well. Mss M walked out with a new pair of glasses, which Im glad about because I was sure she needed them. He was so nice and helpful, actually he is setting us up with another opthamologist to see rather than the one we are seeing.
We now have regular appts with a vision therapist, which I am yet to organise!
And so far Miss M seems rather happy about it all.
Thank you Paul, I have tracked that book down, just have to grab it from my local bookshop next time I go in.
And if you dont mind I will track you down to ask questions in the future!
Glad to hear it's gone well. I don't think I have enough posts here to access my private messages, but if you go to the ACBO site and use the "Find an optometrist" and put my name in, you will find my contact details and email address.
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